Reversing-valve for smelting and other furnaces.



PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

R. SCHNEIDER. REVERSING VALVE FOR SMELTING AND OTHER FURNACES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 27, 1904 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FEGENERA 70R Fan was VALvE FEM/mm m R 1 {Franz/urea PATENTBD NOV. 7, 1905.

R. SCHNEIDER.

REVERSING VALVE FOR SMELTING AND OTHER FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 808,628. PATENTED NOV. '7, 1905. R. SCHNEIDER. REVERSING VALVE FOR SMELTING AND OTHER FURNACES.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 27, 1904.

4 SLZJRBETS-SHEBT 3.

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PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

R. SCHNEIDER. REVBRSING VALVE FOR SMELTING AND OTHER FURNACES.

APPLIGATIOK FILED JUNE 27, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REINHOLD SCHNEIDER, OF SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA.

REVERSlNG-VALVE FOR SMELTING AND OTHER FURNACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7, 1905.

Application filed June 2'7, 1904. Serial No. 214,368.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to reversing valves or flnes for smelting, heating, and other furnaces.

The valve or reversing-flue is water-sealed, and it is reversed by a rotary or a partial rotary movement.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing the grouping of single reversible flues or valves in connection with air and gas regenerators, said view illustrating only onehalf of the furnace or plant and there being one reversible flue or valve for each air-regenerator and gas-regenerator. Fig. 2 is a plan View showing a grouping of double reversible fines or valves, there being in this instance only one reversible flue or valve for each pair of air-regenerators and each pair of gas-regenerators. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a single reversible valve or flue connection along the line A B C D E F of Fig. 4:. Fig. iis a plan view of the single form of reversible valve or flue. Fig. 5 is a plan View of a double reversing water-sealed flue or valve. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 with the flue adjusted to another position. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a single reversing valve or flue on the line A B O D of Fig. 9. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 7 through the ball-bearing and the parts associated therewith. Fig. 9 is a plan view of an adjustable flue for air. Fig. 10 is a detail view of gearing for revolving the flue.

Referring to Fig. 1, a is the regenerator for air, and b the regenerator for gas. 0 is the reversible air valve or flue, and cl the reversible gas valve or flue connected, respectively, to the air and gas regenerators and each connected to the stack 6. At 7 I indicate the gasflue coming from the gas-main and connecting, as shown, with the reversible gas valve or flue. It will be understood that this figure shows only one-half of the plant, the center of which is indicated in this figure. The reversible valves or flues in this instance are of single form, and they are so arranged in the plant or system that their center line runs parallel to the front line of the furnace. This arrangement takes the least room for the operating mechanism on top of the chargingplatform, where a charging-machine runs between the furnace and the flue-operating mechanism in the case of smelting-furnaces or where operating crew Work in the case of other kinds of furnaces. The reversible valves or fines are of a rotary character, and by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that they comprise each a fixed basin g, surrounding the flue-terminals I II 111, said basin having an upturned flange 72, around its outer edge and circular flanges i surrounding and concentric with the flue-terminals, the flanges forming a receptacle for the water or sand. The flange it also extends downwardly around the raised part of the floor. The reversible flue proper has an elongated domeshaped or elevated conduit j, carried by the plate in, which has flanges Z and 172 depending therefrom in close proximity to the upturned flanges lo and i on the basin g. The elevated air or gas conduit or flue 7' is composed of a shell cast in one piece with the plate in. this plate is perforated at n to allow the escape of any air or gas which may have been imprisoned in the space between the flanges m and Z and the top plate is and the surface of the material in the basin. An overflow-trough is provided at 0, from which a pipe leads to any desired point, the said trough being intended to catch the water which may flow over the edge of the basin 9 at the point where the trough is located. This overflow takes place when the upper part of the valve or flue j is lowered after being reversed in position, said lowering movement causing its flanges to be immersed in the water in the basin which formsthe seal for the valve. All parts of the valve or reversible flue where gases or air pass through are lined with fireclay or brickwork p, and thus all the ironwork is protected from direct contact with the passing gases or products of combustion. The flue is of such form that at the least circumference the greatest area is obtained. The flue is of a combined cylindrical and spherical shape, and this allows all brick-lining in horizontal or vertical position to be sprung in arches, and so avoid all danger of collapse.

. In Figs. 3 and 4 the reversible flue or valve is shown as connecting the flue-terminals I and II, connected, respectively, with the stack and with the furnace to allow the gas to pass from the furnace to the stack.

In 0rd er to reverse the position of the valve, the upper or dome portion '7; is raised until the flanges Z are raised above the level of flanges 2', and then the upper part 7' 7c is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4:, so that the flue or conduit connects the terminal II with the terminal III, and the gases from the main are then free to pass to the furnace, and at the same time the entrance to the terminal I of the stack is cut ofl by the plate Z3. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. I the terminal IIIfor the gas is cut ofl by the plate 70, lying directly above the same. It will be noticed from Fig. 3 that the flange m is much deeper than the flanges Z, and thus the rotary portion of the valve or reversible flue may be lifted so as to clear the flanges z, and at the same time the flange on will remain immersed in the liquid seal and an escape of gases to the outside air will be prevented.

From what has just been described it will be seen that the reversible flue is operated simply by raising and turning it, and that while it provides a free passage for the gas or air between terminal openings it also acts as a cut-off for the other terminal.

The reversible flue thus far described is of the single form shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood, however, that the valves may be of double form, as shown in Fig. 2, in which case one valve or reversible flue will control a pair of air-regenerators and another valve will control a pair of gas-regenerators. Two valves would be employed in this instance where four are required by the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1. The location and size of valves are the features which would decide Whether the single or double reversing-flue would be the best in any particular case. The action of the double valve is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and is substantially the same as that described, excepting in this form there is no cut-off of any flue required. All flues are in action at all times, though connected up differen tly according to theposition of the valve or flue. In this form of course two domeshaped conduits or flues are provided for each valve. Fig. 6 represents the reversed position from that shown in Fig. 5, the valve being turned ninety degrees in respect to the position of the valve in Fig. 5.

The means for operating the reversible flue or valve is as follows, referring to Fig. 7: The movable upper part of the valve fir is suspended by a vertical shaft (1, having a head or collar r, supported by a sleeve or collars, surrounding the shaft and with interposed ballbearings t. The sleeve is operated by a lever 24, pivoted to a post a on the frame 10. The shaft is adapted to have vertical sliding movement through the box 00 or distance-piece on the frame. The weight of the parts is counterbalanced by a weighted lever z, pivoted to the sleeve by engaging the trunnions on the sleeve and supported by the part 1 on the frame. When the movable flue or valve member has been raised, it is then possible to rotate it to reverse its position, and for rotating the valv e I employ a hand-wheel 2 on the shaft 3, journaled in the frame and having a gearwheel 4 at its lower end meshing with a toothed segment 5 on the shaft of the valve or flue. As will be seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the vertical shaft connects with the movable dome or top of the valve at one side of the center of the flue, though centrally of the valve considered as a whole. Stops are provided at 7 on the flange lb of the basin adapted to be struck by a projection or stop-piece 6 on the movable part of the valve to accurately position the valve when adjusted. The lever u may be operated by hand or by power. The action of the two levers a and 2 is to cause the shaft (1 to be raised vertically and without side motion. A water-sprinkler may be employed at Fig. 7 to cool the outside of the reversible flue, the waste water from which w ll run into the basin 9 to maintain the water seal.

The movable part of the valve or rotary flue in Fig. 7 is shown as guided by the balls 8, laid loosely in the hemispherical pockets 9. These act when the valve is either rotated or moved vertically. At 10 I show a drain or site sides, thus causingcontinuecl severe strain on the material and shortening the life of the apparatus. On account of the use of the fireclay lining the warping of the metal parts will be avoided, as the heating up and cooling off of the metal will take place gradually. All parts of the apparatus subject to change in relative position have a concentric relation to each other, whereby the least possible clearance is needed, and consequently only a very small surface area of the water is exposed to the heated gases, keeping evaporation down to a minimum. All mechanism used for operating and guiding the reversing-fines are so soaeas located that they are easily reversible and capable of being looked after without taking the apparatus apart. The operating parts not being submerged in sealing liquid and not in the path of the gases are not subject to the destructive action of either.

I claim 1. In combination, in a valve of the class described, a basin, or receptacle containing a tating the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a valve of the class described, a basin or receptacle for a sealing medium, a rotary member fitted to said receptacle, and having a flue, a shaft extending from said rotary member, a segment on the shaft, an elongated gear meshing with the segment, a shaft for turning the elongated gear, and means for raising and lowering the said rotary member, substantially as described.

3. In combination, in a valve of the class described, a basin or receptacle containing a sealing medium and a rotary member consisting of a plate having a flue which is arched laterally at its middle portion to be partly cylindrical at said portion and at its ends is partly spherical, the lower wall of said flue being formed by a part of the plate and a firebrick lining for the said flue, substantially as described.

4. In combination, in a valve of the class described, a basin containing a sealing medium, a rotary member comprising a plate cast with a flue which is made up of a middle portion partly cylindrical and with end portions partly spherical, said flue connecting circular openings through the said plate, which circular openings are surrounded on thelower side of the plate with circular flanges cast with the plate, and a fire-clay lining within the cylindrical and spherical portions of the flue, substantially as described.

5. In combination, in a reversing-valve of the class described, a basin containing a sealing medium, a plate extending over the said basin and provided with two independentflues, each partly cylindrical in its middle portion and partly spherical at its ends, and each connecting a pair of circular openings through the said plate and provided with fire-brick lining, the said plate having circular flanges on its lower side extending about the openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

REIN HOLD SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses:

A. W. WILLIAMS, FRED A. SERVIG. 

